How irritating do you find proselytizing?

Question

I find it highly irritating! Why can't people just respect other people's faith and agree to disagree?
I'm Jewish and I have total respect for other religions. Judaism forbids proselytizing, anyway. Why do some people feel the need to 'persuade' others of 'the truth'? Don't you agree it's intensely patronising?

Answer 1

It is very interesting that you asked this question. I recently entered a synagogue for the first time ever in my life for a friend's bar mitsvah. I was totally impressed with the service and the humility and joy expressed by the Rabbi and all the others participating in the service. It was a joyful experience and all of us non-believers were so welcomed and all was explained in such detail. My husband is a non practicing Arab Muslim and he really had a good time as the party was also in the synagogue and he really felt welcome, even though everyone knew we were Arab and his religious roots. I have never felt so at ease with religious people in my life.
Oh, yes and no one proselytized to us at all. Their whole demeanor and grace actually drew us to them rather than away from them. If I was going to be religious, I would choose that synagogue and those people.

Answer 2

People of all faiths do that here. It's the R&S section after all!

Even the Pseudo- religion of Atheism is no exception. They proselytize every day here. The difference with them isn't that they do not believe in God, but that they are in total denial about it.

But experiment with this: Ask the Atheists why they are here on the R&S section. They will tell you (I have seen it before) that they are here to bring people around to common sense- as if common sense was a way to get around the word proselytizing. But it's what it is nonetheless.

Answer 3

Yes, intensely irritating - and for some reason, my street seems to attract various god botherers like wasps to a jam pot.

Until we stuck the moving LED sign saying "No religious callers", we would have about 3 a month - often at very inconvenient times.

The frustrating thing which is where I can angry, is that they don't take "no, please leave" as an answer - and somehow in their brainwashed little mind, that translates as "please DO come and irritate me again next month"

Jehova's Witnesses are by far the worst for door knocking.

The only good part is that their agressive proselytizing stance actually forewarns some "would be converts" into staying away.

Mark

Answer 4

I agree. Proselytizing is very irritating and rude. Living in the bible belt of the American South, I get it all the time too. It goes something like this:

So what church do you go to?
I don't go to church, I go to synagogue, I'm Jewish.
So do you want to come to church with me?
No thanks, I'm Jewish.
Well you do belive that Jesus is your personal god and saviour don't you?
No.
Well he was, and he loves you.
Thanks for the sentiment, but Jesus was just a man who lived 2000 years ago. Actually, there were quite a few men named Jesus at that time. Can we talk about something else?
But aren't you worried that you're going to hell?
Actually, I don't believe in hell either.
You will when you're there. You should accept Jesus as your saviour so you can go to heaven.
. . .

They rarely get the point, and these can be anybody from the checkout lady at the grocery store to one of the secretaries working in my office! How are you supposed to deal with someone with a straight face after having a conversation like that? I don't know.

Just a long winded way to say, yes, I agree totally. Proselytizing is very irritating.

Answer 5

They can't just respect other people's faith because they feel that their faith is the only right faith and they are trying to score brownie points or comission in heaven by getting their convert count up as high as they can get it.

They claim that it is because they care about the souls of those they try to convert, but it's all a steaming load. If they cared so much they'd leave people be. They only proselytize because that's what they are told to do, and they don't want to disappoint the savior.

Answer 6

I actually enjoy it when people want to discuss things like this with me.

What I don't enjoy is when the hot heated people of a specific religion become threatening and violent because you refuse give their arguments any validity.

I have had many enjoyable conversations with different people of different faiths and only one religous group has resorted to threats and attempted violence. To be honest I will happily discuss my personal beliefs with anyone, I am confident.

Answer 7

I find it an amusing opportunity to point out the flaws in the christian faith such as following the words of man and ignoring the direct commandment from Jesus on following the laws of moses. There are many more but too much to list here. I tend to leave them alone unless they come to me first.

Answer 8

It is very annoying and very bullying when people (no matter of what religion they are) come around proselyting!
I find it insulting and disrespectful, who are they judge which faith is better than another?

Answer 9

I find it extremely rude. I don't have any objection to a friendly discussion as long as both parties understand that "stop means stop".

We have actually had adults proselytize to our children. That beyond rude.

Answer 10

Red Sea Pedestrian, nice name!

I felt that way until I started studying the Bible for myself (New and Old Testaments).

I realized years later what it was that bugged me about hearing about salvation. I had to place my faith in and follow the way of salvation according to what the Bible says.

"The righteous will live by his faith" Habakkuk 2:4b